My Krossroads

I hope the widow gets justice. Notwithstanding the proliferation of churches in Nigeria, this report from Emmanuel, a Guest blogger is one of the reasons corruption, prostitution and other vices are rife in the country. A church that demands anything from you before prayers or says blessings from God cost a certain amount is not a genuine church. 

Okafor Okolie, a self-acclaimed pastor and founder of God’s Covenant Ministries, Ejigbo, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, has just being released on bail from police cell, where he was detained for days.All things being equally after police investigations, Okolie may be charged to court for allegedly defrauding a widow of cash, properties and land valued at millions of naira Checks revealed that the build- up to this latest mess by Okafor began in 2009, when his wife, who claimed to be Prophetess Ngozi Okolie, got in contact with a widow, identify as Theresa Onuoha, through one Evangelist Emmanuel Nonso Ike.Forty three years old Madam Onuola told our reporter that she experienced hell on earth as soon as her husband of fifteen years marriage died three years ago.According to her, the family of her husband were making things pretty difficult for me even inheritance as my husband left behind cash, landed properties, car and other possessions valued at millions of naira. In addition to the in-law angle, the widow said that the loneliness she experienced, couple with the fact that her business was not booming at that point in time made me to be desperate in my search for spiritual succors. The desperation appeared to be her greatest undoing as the widow further disclosed that on getting to Prophetess Ngozi Okafor Okolie, after listening to me on the peculiar problems I was passing through at that point in time, the prophetess prepared a concoction from salt, water and olive oil for me in 2009 and ordered that I should drink and bathe with the concoction for seven days. From then onward, I lost my senses and was possibly under the spell of the pastor and his prophetess wife, who hypnotized me and were the enforce controlling me like zombie. Onuoha told our reporter during parade of the police. The widow further lamented that from 2009 the pastor and his wife used brain washing, sugar coated tongue, God and the bible to succeed in collecting about N550, 000cash, suitcases containing clothes, household items, a Mercedes benz car, under the guise that God revealed to the prophetess that the late husband of the widow joined occultic groups, while he was alive. Therefore, according to the widow the early possession of the man should be brought to God’s Covenant Ministries located at No 3, Brethren Avenue in Iyana-Ejigbo, Lagos, as an appreciation for being delivered from occultic powers. I was given an account number by Pastor Okafor Okolie and asked to sell landed property of my late husband in Anambra State valued at N1.8 million and paid the money into the Oceanic Bank Account of the church, Onuoha said, insisting that her sister stopped her from carrying out the pastor’s instructions. Speaking on behalf of her husband during the parade, Prophetess Ngozi Okoli admitted that she prepared a concoction for Onuola, but quickly said that there was nothing satanic or devilish about the concoction. She further explained that the widow in appreciation for deliverance after three months of marathon prayers and fasting willingly gave out her family inheritance, which includes: 10 suitcases containing clothes, rugs, Mercedes Benz car, etc. to the church of God for use by the priests.But, Samuel Jinadu, Lagos police spokesman said that based on report to the police by the widow, her properties were recovered from the apartment of the pastor and handed over to her. Jinadu, a deputy superintendent of police however assured that Pastor Okafor Okolie and the wife, Ngozi will soon be charged to court for alleged fraud.He explained that though police do not belief in juju, voodoo,witchcraft or magic, the matter will eventually be decided by competent court where Okafor and the wife will convince the court on why they should not be prosecuted for alleged fraud.

Emmauel Udom